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☆ Wall St Week Ahead: Defensives may not be safe place to hide as stock market stumbles
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Lewis Krauskopf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"Last year it was really easy to hide out in defensives," said Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial. When compounded by the fact that some defensive stocks carry relatively expensive valuations, investors may avoid them even if the broader market sours. The S&P 500 was last up 3.7% in 2023, but had pulled back since posting its best January performance since 2019. However the sector's financial prospects this year are relatively weak; S&P 500 healthcare earnings are expected to fall 8.3% against a 1.7% increase for the overall S&P 500, according to Refinitiv IBES. Should concerns about recession spike, as they did last year, defensives could outperform again on a relative basis, according to investors.

☆ Kroger sees annual profit above estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 2 (Reuters) - Kroger Co (KR.N) forecast annual profit above Wall Street estimates on Thursday, as the supermarket chain benefits from higher prices, easing cost pressures and steady demand for its groceries and other essentials. Shares of Kroger, which has inked a $25 billion deal to buy smaller rival Albertsons Companies Inc (ACI.N), climbed about 3% in premarket trading. Kroger forecast adjusted earnings per share of between $4.45 and $4.60 for fiscal 2023, while analysts on average expected a profit of $4.20 per share, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Still, the company projected same-store sales growth, excluding fuel, of 1% to 2% in fiscal 2023, below analysts' estimate of a 2.23% increase. Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'SilvaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Salesforce's upbeat revenue forecast, buyback plan boost shares
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 1 (Reuters) - Salesforce Inc (CRM.N) on Wednesday forecast first-quarter revenue above analysts' estimates and increased its share repurchase program to $20 billion, sending shares of the cloud-based software provider up 14% in extended trading. May be this takes some of the wind out of the activists' demands," said Steve Koenig, managing director at SMBC Nikko Securities. The company forecast first-quarter revenue between $8.16 billion and $8.18 billion, compared with analysts' average estimate of $8.06 billion, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Revenue for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31 was $8.38 billion, above analysts' average expectation of $7.99 billion, according to Refinitiv IBES data. On an adjusted basis, the company earned $1.68 per share, compared with estimates of $1.36 per share.

☆ Kohl's swings to surprise loss as margins crumble on steep discounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 1 (Reuters) - Kohl's Corp (KSS.N) reported a surprise quarterly loss and forecast full-year profit well below analysts' estimates on Wednesday, as steep discounts to boost sluggish demand for apparel shredded the retailer's margins. Those discounts were the major contributor to a more than 10 percentage point decline in fourth-quarter gross margins to 23%, Kohl's said. Kohl's reported a loss of $2.49 per share for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 28, compared with estimates for a profit of 98 cents. Comparable sales at Kohl's fell 6.6% in the fourth quarter, compared with analysts' estimate of a 3.7% decrease. Separately, apparel maker Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF.N) also missed holiday quarter earnings estimates on Wednesday, hit by higher costs of cotton.

☆ American Eagle tops quarterly estimates on steady apparel demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Granth Vanaik | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 1 (Reuters) - American Eagle Outfitters (AEO.N) on Wednesday beat fourth-quarter market estimates, as consumers heading back to work and social events snapped up apparel and accessories despite persistently high inflation. Shares of American Eagle jumped about 7% in extended trading as the company also reinstated a $0.10 per share quarterly cash dividend after pausing it in September. Even as the United States faces once-in-a-generation levels of inflation, demand for sportswear, dresses and cargo pants have remained steady, benefiting apparel makers like American Eagle that have offered higher discounts to shoppers in order to get rid of excess stock. In January, the American Eagle said that its fourth-quarter sales and profit margins were tracking at high end of its forecasts, benefiting from its decision to right-size inventories and a better-than-expected performance at its American Eagle label. Excluding items, American Eagle earned 37 cents per share, above estimates of 30 cents.

☆ Dollar Tree sees weak 2023 profit as costs mount, shoppers curb spending
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 1 (Reuters) - Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR.O) forecast full-year profit below Wall Street estimates on Wednesday, as costs mount and consumers restrict spending on discretionary products like apparel and party supplies. Shares of the discount store operator were down about 4% in premarket trading after it also forecast first-quarter profit below expectations. Dollar Tree saw gross margin improve 70 basis points to 30.9% in the fourth quarter, helped by higher initial mark-on and lower freight costs. The company expects 2023 profit between $6.30 and $6.80 per share, well below analysts' estimate of $7.78 in Refinitiv IBES data. However, it forecast 2023 sales between $29.9 billion and $30.5 billion, above estimates of $29.86 billion.

[1/2] A sign for the Bank of Montreal in Toronto, Ontario, Canada December 13, 2021. Banks typically benefit from higher interest rates but could feel the pressure if they affect loan demand and economic growth. Provision for credit losses (PCL) at BMO came in at C$217 million ($158 million) for the quarter, compared with a recovery of C$99 million a year earlier. Reuters GraphicsProfits at BMO and Scotiabank were also weighed down by the Canadian government's 'Canada Recovery Dividend (CRD)'. BMO recorded C$371 million related to the CRD and Scotiabank C$579 million.

☆ AMC beats revenue estimates as 'Avatar' lures movie fans
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 28 (Reuters) - AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (AMC.N) beat Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter revenue on Tuesday, as box-office hits such as "Avatar: The Way of Water" made movie-goers flock to its theaters during the holiday session. Shares of Leawood, Kansas-based AMC, which operates more than 900 theaters globally, rose 2% in trading after the bell. Revenue for the quarter was $990.9 million, compared to analysts' expectation of $977.7 million, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Net loss widened to $287.7 million, or 26 cents per share, during the quarter ended Dec. 31, from $134.4 million, or 13 cents per share, a year ago. Reporting by Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju SamuelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Wall St Week Ahead: U.S. economic resilience could add luster to semiconductor shares
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Lewis Krauskopf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index (.SOX) is up about 16% so far this year, dwarfing the 3% year-to-date gain for the S&P 500 (.SPX) and the Nasdaq Composite’s (.IXIC) 8.5% rise. With semiconductors a key component in countless products, some investors are betting economic strength could help the shares outperform. "If that’s the case, then I think semiconductors can do very well.”Of course, economic strength has been a double-edged sword for stocks lately. Semiconductor shares have pulled back recently along with broader markets on worries of a "no landing" economic scenario in which strong growth keeps inflation elevated and prompts the Fed to raise interest rates higher for longer. And if tighter Fed policy eventually brings on a recession in the second half of the year, as some fear, semis could suffer.

☆ Wall St Week Ahead U.S. economic resilience could add luster to semiconductor shares
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Lewis Krauskopf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

☆ Loblaw forecasts annual profit above estimates on strong grocery demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Canadian retailer Loblaw Cos Ltd (L.TO) forecast annual earnings above analysts' expectations on Thursday, helped by strength in its pharmacy business and as demand holds up for groceries. Loblaw expects full-year 2023 adjusted earnings per common share to grow in low double-digits compared with the average analyst estimate of 9.64%, according to Refinitiv IBES data. The company's fourth-quarter revenue rose about 10% to C$14.01 billion ($10.35 billion), topping the average estimate of C$13.75 billion. On an adjusted basis, Loblaw earned C$1.76 per share, beating analysts' expectations of C$1.71 per share. ($1 = 1.3533 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Aatrayee Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi MajumdarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Domino's Pizza misses sales estimates as demand wavers amid driver shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Domino's Pizza Inc (DPZ.N) missed quarterly sales estimates on Thursday, in a sign that price hikes were eating into demand for its pizzas and chicken wings amidst decades-high inflation, sending its shares down nearly 10% in premarket trade. The Michigan-based company has also been facing acute staffing shortages, especially of delivery drivers at its U.S. stores, which has lengthened delivery times and further dented sales. Still, hiking menu prices by about 7%, as estimated by the company in October, helped Domino's adjusted earnings of $3.97 per share top estimates of $3.94 per share. BTIG analyst Peter Saleh has estimated Domino's currently has the highest level of menu pricing in more than a decade. Reporting by Mehr Bedi and Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Milla NissiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Etsy beats revenue estimates on steady demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Etsy Inc (ETSY.O) on Wednesday beat Wall Street expectations for quarterly revenue, helped by demand for home goods, clothes, jewelry and accessories offered on its e-commerce platform, sending its shares up 4% in extended trading. Net revenue rose to $807.2 million in the quarter from $717.1 million a year earlier. Analysts on average had expected revenue of about $751.8 million, as per Refinitiv IBES data. Last week, short seller Citron Research said Etsy had become one of the largest platforms in the world for counterfeit goods. The percentage of counterfeit goods on Etsy has become too large and the company could no longer defend it as a small percentage of revenue, Citron had said.

☆ EBay forecasts first-quarter revenue above estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Ecommerce company EBay Inc (EBAY.O) on Wednesday forecast first-quarter revenue above Wall Street estimates on hopes that cost-conscious shoppers would be attracted towards its used and refurbished product category in the face of a looming recession. Shares of the San Jose, California- based company rose nearly 2% in trading after the bell. The company forecast current-quarter revenue between $2.46 billion and $2.50 billion. However, gross merchandise volume (GMV), a widely watched figure for the e-commerce industry's performance, fell 12% to $18.2 billion in the fourth quarter. EBay posted revenue of $2.51 billion for the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with analysts' estimate of $2.47 billion, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

☆ Walmart sees lower 2023 performance in time of economic uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Siddharth Cavale | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"There's still a lot of trepidation and uncertainty with the economic outlook. "So, that makes us cautious on the economic outlook because we simply don't know what we don't know." Home Depot (HD.N) also forecast weaker-than-expected annual profits on Tuesday as soaring prices hit demand for home-improvement products. They want the allure of savings and Walmart provides that," said McNew, whose firm holds about 350,000 Walmart shares. Walmart signs are displayed inside a Walmart store in Mexico City, Mexico March 28, 2019.

☆ Walmart cautious on economy, forecasts annual earnings below estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Feb 21 (Reuters) - Walmart Inc (WMT.N) forecast full-year earnings below estimates on Tuesday, saying it was cautious about the economic outlook for 2023 and that consumers were likely to continue shopping for lower-priced items that could pressure its margins. "There's still a lot of trepidation and uncertainty with the economic outlook. "So, that makes us cautious on the economic outlook because we simply don't know what we don't know." Walmart forecast fiscal 2024 earnings of $5.90 to $6.05 per share, compared with analysts' estimates of $6.50 per share, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Still, Walmart reported strong demand in the quarter ended Jan. 31, posting total revenue of $164.05 billion, a 7.3% increase from last year.

☆ Take Five: A year of war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

LONDON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - The coming week will mark a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. The war goes on, but the world, and the markets, are in a very different place from last February. 1/A YEAR OF WARSenior politicians and military leaders from around the globe meet in Germany this weekend, days before the anniversary on Feb. 24 of Russia's invasion of Ukraine - Europe's biggest conflict since World War Two. Moscow is ramping up its spring offensive, while Ukraine - armed with heavier and longer-range firepower from the West - gathers strength for a counter push. On the same day as the Ukraine anniversary - Feb. 24 - Ueda should offer clues on timing when he testifies with his two would-be deputies to the lower house.

☆ Applied Materials forecasts strong Q2 as chipmakers scale up production
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 16 (Reuters) - Chip tools maker Applied Materials Inc (AMAT.O) on Thursday forecast second-quarter revenue broadly above market estimates, as it benefits from higher production of semiconductors that had been in short supply for the most of last year. After a global shortage of semiconductors affected everything from smartphones to car production, chipmakers are now scrambling to boost capacity in the United States and Europe and reduce reliance on Asian hubs. The company forecast current-quarter revenue of $6.40 billion, plus or minus $400 million, compared with analysts' average estimate of $6.29 billion, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Revenue for the first quarter was $6.74 billion, compared with analysts' average expectation of $6.69 billion. Excluding items, the company earned $2.03 per share, beating estimates of $1.93 per share, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

☆ Biogen CEO bets on Alzheimer's drug, pipeline to return to growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Manas Mishra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 15 (Reuters) - Biogen Inc (BIIB.O) Chief Executive Officer Christopher Viehbacher said on Wednesday he is banking on high-profile launches of Alzheimer's disease treatment Leqembi and depression drug zuranolone, as well as deals, to help the company return to revenue growth. A controversial approval and problematic launch of previous Alzheimer's disease drug Aduhelm, which like Leqembi was developed with Eisai Co Ltd (4523.T), have further dented investor sentiment. Biogen is also hoping to gain U.S. approval of depression treatment zuranolone this year. Biogen forecast full-year adjusted profit of $15 to $16 per share, compared with analysts' estimates of $15.72 per share. The company reported a fourth-quarter adjusted profit of $4.05 per share, beating estimates compiled by Refinitiv IBES by 57 cents.

The Newcrest acquisition by Newmont, if successful, could result in the enlarged company shedding some assets. Bristow stuck to the company's 'build, not buy' approach and ruled out the possibility that Barrick would launch a counter bid for Newcrest. Newmont's offer implied a 21% premium to Newcrest's share price. Barrick last month reported a 13.4% rise in gold production as access to high-grade ore at its Cortez and Carlin mines in Nevada powered a "strong finish" to the fourth quarter. Production for the year, however, was 4.1 million ounces of gold, down from 4.4 million ounces in 2021.

☆ Biogen sees modest 2023 revenue from Alzheimer's disease drug
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Manas Mishra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 15 (Reuters) - Biogen Inc (BIIB.O) said on Wednesday that Alzheimer's disease drug Leqembi would bring in modest revenue for the year although it might not be enough to offset costs tied to its launch. Biogen has a 50% share of U.S. profits on Leqembi, which it developed with lead partner Eisai Co Ltd (4523.T). "Over the last couple of years, the company has lost its way somewhat and now it is in a declining revenue," Viehbacher said. Biogen expects full-year adjusted profit of $15 to $16 per share, compared with analysts' estimates of $15.72 per share. The company reported a Q4 adjusted profit of $4.05 per share, above Refinitiv IBES estimates of $3.48 per share.

Feb 13 (Reuters) - Banking and payments processing conglomerate Fidelity National Information Services Inc (FIS.N) took a $17.6 billion write-down on its merchant business as it unveiled plans on Monday to spin it off, undoing a $43 billion acquisition that went sour. FIS built its merchant business, which processes transactions for companies, on the back of its $43 billion purchase of WorldPay four years ago. "The pace of disruption in payments is rapidly accelerating, requiring increased investment in growth and a different capital allocation strategy for our merchant solutions business," FIS Chairman Jeffrey Goldstein said in a statement. Charles Drucker, the former CEO of Worldpay, will lead the merchants business after it is spun out, FIS said. Merchant solutions makes up about 30% of FIS' revenue, while its banking solutions arm constitutes about 46%, and capital market solutions the remainder.

☆ Newell Brands CEO Saligram to retire; forecasts 2023 results below estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 10 (Reuters) - Newell Brands Inc (NWL.O) said its top boss Ravi Saligram will retire effective May 16 and forecast annual results below analysts' estimates, sending the Sharpie maker's shares down 11% in premarket trading. Newell's fourth-quarter results beat estimates, but the company projected fiscal 2023 net sales between $8.4 billion and $8.6 billion. Analysts had expected full-year net sales of $9.08 billion, according to Refinitiv IBES data. The company forecast an annual profit per share of 95 cents to $1.08, compared with estimates of $1.42. Newell also expects a first-quarter loss between 3 cents per share and 6 cents per share, compared with estimates of a profit of 23 cents.

Macroeconomic pressures have begun to hurt American consumers, particularly those in the lower income bracket, but PayPal's customers continue to spend largely undeterred by decades-high inflation. Even so, the company's upbeat forecast comes alongside its previously announced commitment of lowering expenses in the backdrop of its key e-commerce segment feeling the pinch of a slowdown. Inflationary pressures have affected discretionary consumer spending and post-COVID spending patterns are still evolving," acting finance chief Gabrielle Rabinovitch said in a call with analysts. In a divergence from prior quarters, PayPal said it will not provide a forecast for full-year revenue growth. PayPal said it expects full-year adjusted profit of roughly $4.87 on a per share basis.

Feb 9 (Reuters) - PayPal Holdings Inc (PYPL.O) forecast full-year profit above Wall Street estimates on Thursday and said Chief Executive Dan Schulman will retire at the end of 2023, after nearly eight and a half years at the payment firm's helm. PayPal said it expects full-year adjusted profit of roughly $4.87 on a per share basis. PayPal earned a profit of $1.24 per share on an adjusted basis in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, beating analyst estimates of $1.20 per share. PayPal was one of the biggest winners during the COVID pandemic when people locked at home used its platform while shopping online. Reporting by Manya Saini and Jaiveer Shekhawat in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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